Electric ignition apparatus.



PATENTEE MAY 15, 1906. I

G. E.-FRANQUIST. ELECTRIC IGNITION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1005.

UNITEDSTATES PATENT orrron.

.GUSTAVEEDWARD rRANoUIsr, or NEW YORK, N. Y.-

ELECTRIO'IGNITION APPARATUS.

I Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented May 15, 1906.

Application filed June 24, 1905. Serial No. 266,761.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, GUSTAVE EDWARD FRANQUIST, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at the city of New York, in the borough of Manhattan .and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improve- -ments in Electric Ignition Apparatus, of

: timer or commutator.

In the method of jump park ignition the low-tension eircuitfincluding the attery or 3 other source of electric current, is interrupted at suitable intervals of time, which impresses a, high electromotive force in the secondary circuit, including the spark-plugs so that sparks jump across the plugs and-ignite the mixtures within the cyhnders. Under the present methods of construction the .circuitis brokenhya rotatingseriesof contacts and the secondary circuit is. also provided with aform of rotary switch, which antomatically directs the secondary current I into the proper spark-plug. This rotating switch also has the effect 0 oviding a minute supplliemental air-gap in the secondarycircuit, w ch increases the efficiency by preventing a premature leakage of the charge across the sooty terminals within the cylin- The object ,of my present invention is to devise a convenient and racticable form of mechanism for 'accom ishing the abovenamed functions, whici shall be simple in operation, convenient and easy to manufacture, and havingaminimum number of parts.

A'further object of the invention is to provide a device which shall accomplish all the above-named functions and which shall be incl'osed within a sin le dust-proof casing and operable'from a sing e shaft connection.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the construction, combination, location, and arrangement of parts, all as will be' more fully hereinafter set forth as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a timer or commutator mechanism embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

The mechanism which I have illustrated is designed for use upon a motor-vehicle having a four-cylinder hydrocarbon-motor and is provided with car connections by which-1t can be operatec? from the rotating parts. It

is to be understood, however, that my invention is applicable to use with hydrocarbonmotors 1n any relation or of any desired number of cylinders, and it may be driven by gears, chains, belts, direct connection, or in any other way.

Referring to the drawings, and to the views and reference-signs appearin thereon, in which like parts are designate by the same reference-signs wherever they occur, 1 denotes a circuit-controller casing in which is disposed the rotatable shaft 2,. carrying the.

drivin Lmeans 3 thereon, which I have shown in theaorm of a gear within a supplemental casing. In the preferred form of my invention I make the casings in two parts 5 and 6, which can be "clamped or secured together in any suitable way. The part 5 has a projecting fixed journal 7, which forms the journal-bearing for the shaft 2, previously mentioned.

8 indicates an oil-duct leading to any suitable point for the attachment of a usual form of oil-cup.

The part 4, with its fixed journal 7, forming the journal-bearing of the shaft 2, constitutes the main supporting-frame and is itself supported from the motor-vehicle chassis or from the engine-frame in any suitable way.

I have devised a convenient form of construction for theshaft 2, in which I form a collar 10 thereon, which abuts a ainst the end of the fixed journal or journalcaring 7 and forms a thrust-bearing to limit the endwise movement of the shaft.

1 1 indicates a stud upon the shaft 2, which forms a sup ort for the battery-timer or circuit-contro ler properv I have shown this battery primary timer in the form of a sleeve 12, loosely mounted on the stud 11 and having a series of recesses 13 in its end face, which may be engaged with a correspondingly-formed pin or projection 14 upon the face of the flange 10.

15 indicates the contact member of the battery-timerand is in the form of a collar LII notches or recesses I place insulating-blocks 'as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and within the i 19, of fiber or other suitable insulating ma 3 terial. The collar 16 slides over the sleeve 12 and is held in place thereon by a locking-screw 20, which acts as a combined key and fastening means. When the parts are assembled in this way, the insulating-sections ltl-aie firmly held between their containing-walls and the peripheral face and shoulder 12 of the sleeve 12. The battery primary timer is placed upon the stud 11, and the pin 14 is engaged with one of the rccesses 13, so as to adjust the timer in proper angular relation with respect to the shaft 2.

I also provide means upon the shaft-2 for automatically switching the secondarycurrent into the proper spark-plug, and in the practical construction which 1 have illustrated 21 indicates a block of hard rubber or other insulating material, in the face of which is inset a metallic plate 212, which constitutes a secondary switch, as hereinafter described. I have shown the metallic plate 22 as integral with a part of a metallic piece 23, having a recess .Z-t therein, in which is slidably s )ringpressed outward :vmetallic plug 25. e insulating-plate 21 may be secured to the flange I? of the sleeve '15 by screws 26, an intermediate packing material 27, of soft rubber or other similar substance, being used to permit a more perfect adjustment of the parts.

The above-described parts constitute the complete rotary element of the circuit-controller embo lymg my invention. It will be seen that the rotating element is completely journaled in and supported by the fixed journal 7, which constitutes part of the fixed frame.

l will now describe the features of the surrounding casing by which the rotating element is made operative in the circuit-controller. The casing 1 is formed with a portion 30, bored to rotatably surround and it upon the studs 7, and is held in rotative but non-slidable relation thereon by the collar on the shaft 2, previously described. 31 indicatcs a bearing-s11pport for the collar 10, and all these parts are preferably made of hardened steel, so that. thc wear between them will be negligible and the shaft and casing will be held in a fixed relation to one another, which will later be more particularly described. I

The casing 1 is designed to support brushes which bear upon the contacts lb to make and break the primary circuit. y

32 indicates an insulating-plug inserted in an orifice in the casing 1, and within this plug is fixed a metallic tube 33.

CH indicates a brush or electric contact of any suitable description, formed to slide within the tube 33. In the preferred form of my invention I employ a brush of metallic gauze packed into a cylindrical form, so as to slide within the tube and make an efficient contact therewith.

35 indicates a cap upon the outer end of the tube 33, which also forms a contact-terminal therefor and a sup )ort for the pressurespring 36, which normafly presses the brush 34 into contact with the segments H) of the primary timer.

37 indicates a brush generally similar to the brush 34 and slidably disposed in a tube 38, being spring-pressed outward by a spiral springiitl. The tube 38 is, however. directly fitted into the -asing 1, so as to form a grounded connection therewitl'i.

40 indicates a metallic plug which constitutes a pressure abutment for the spring 39.

The purpose of the brush 3? is merely to form an ellicient ground connection from the timer 15 in order to' avoid reliance on the imperfect electrical connections through the journal-bearings of the rotating part. It will be understood that the brush 37 might contact with any portion of the peripheral surface of the rotating part or primary timer 15; but I prefer that it should be on the segments 16, through which it makes electrical connection at all times when such connection is required.

At the end of the casing 1 I secure an insulating plate or block 41, and spaced around the inside face thereof I arrange a plurality of metallic points 42, which constitute terminals of a plurality of circuits, each including a separate plug on one of the cylinders. I have shown the terminals 42 in the form of screws threaded into the insulating-block 41 and having binding-posts 43, by which the connection of the terminal wires is secured.

44 indicates a screw-threaded plug which is screwed into a threaded aperture at the center of the insulating-plate 41, and 45 indicates a binding-post upon the stud by which electrical connection is made from a common wire to all the spark-plugs, also including in the circuit the secondary winding of the induction-coil.

46 indicates a screw within the plu 44, and this screw 46 can be adjusted in antIout, so as to contact with the plug 25, previously titS('lll)C(. As previously stated, the plug 35 is spring-pressed.outward with relation to the shaft 2, by which means the pressure of the plu 25 on the screw 46 is transmitted to the shaft 2 and maintains the bearing-collar 1t) closely against the bearing-support 31 under all conditions.

47 indicates a stud upon the casin 1, to which a chain or link 48 maybe attaclicd for the purpose of rotatably adjustin the easing. W hen the casing is rocked backward and forward, the time relation of the sparks scri tion by those skilled in the art.

within the cylinders is changed with reference to the engine cycles.

The operation of my. circuit-controller Will be understood from the preceding 1d;-

e sha t 2 is rotated continuously by means of the gear 3 and any other intermediate connection from the main engine-shaft. The Contact 35 is connected to one terminal of the primary circuit of the induction-coil, the

' other terminal being grounded on the casing 1. The secondary terminals are connecte in a manner which has already been described, and the points 42 are adjusted so as to lie in intimate proximity to but not actually touching the face of the rotating block The rotation of the circuit-controller is now effective to make and break the rimary circuit of the induction-coil, and W enever this occurs there is impressed in the secondary coil a high electromotive force, which tends to throw a shower of sparks across its terminals. The circuit includes the segment or secondary switch 22, and from this segment the sparks leap to the point 42, which hap ens to be nearest, and from thence are ducted to one of the spark-plugs of the hydrocarbon-motor. It will be seen that in the construction which I have illustrated the primary circuit is made and broken four times in a single revolution, and at each time the secondary'switch 22 is opposite a different point 42. The sparks are accordingly led to four different spark-plugs in regular succession. In the practice of my invention I arrange the segment 22 so that it will be opposite a point as long as sparks are passing.

t is obvious that its not absolutely necessary to employ my circuit-controller with a coil having an interrupter, since the break in the primary circuit caused by the segments timer, and conductors supported adjacent to said switch.

2. In a circuit-controller for hydrocarbonported on said fixed journa and having a part engaging said first-named collar, and spring means for maintaining said collar and part in engagement.

3. In a circuit-controller for hydrocarbonmotors, a frame or support having a shaft journaled therein, a casing revolubl supported on said frame or support and aving a shoulder to limit the endwise movement of said shaft, and spring means for maintaining said shaft in engagement with said shoulder.

4. In a circuit-controller for hydrocarbonmotors, a shaft having a stud and-a pin 14 thereon, a sleeve formed to slide upon said stud and engage said pin, a collar havin notches formed to slide upon said sleeve, an trapezoidal-shaped insulating-sections in said notches enga ing the same on their inclined faces, the en thereto. 4

5. In a circuit-controller for hydrocarbonmotors, a shaft having a stud and a projec faces being square or normal tion or pin thereon, a primary timer, carrying a rotatin secondary switch, disposed upon said stu and engaging said projection, and spring means for retaining said timer in position.

6. In a circuit-controller for hydrocarbon motors, a collar having wedge-shaped notches in its face, trapezoidal insulating-sections in said notches, and a part formed to fit within said collar and having a shoulder to abut against the end faces of said insulating-sections and hold them in osition.

7. In a circuit-control er for hydrocarbonmotors, a shaft having a stud and a in thereon, a sleeve u on said shaft engaging said pin, and a col ar having notches with intermediate insulating-sections, fitted upon said sleeve,.and a screw for holding said parts together.

In witness whereof I subscribe .my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GUSTAVE EDWARD FRANQUIST. 

